Team Herald
MARGAO: Citizens are voicing concerns about the South Goa District Hospital at Margao, which, despite being inaugurated with much fanfare, continues to fall short of providing required medical services.
Many patients are still being referred to Goa Medical College due to a shortage of resources at the district hospital, highlighting the long-standing demand for the hospital to be upgraded to a tertiary care facility and fully operational.
Despite numerous complaints from the public and ongoing debates in the Assembly, the hospital's performance has yet to meet expectations, prompting renewed calls for Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to fulfill his promises.
It is important to note that as a district hospital, South Goa’s healthcare facility should cater to hundreds of patients from across the region. Yet, many are still being transferred to Goa Medical College, including accident victims, due to the insufficient staff and lack of equipment at SGDH.
In a petition to the Health Minister, local citizen Prabhav Naik urged authorities to act on their promises and improve the hospital’s operations, emphasizing the pressing healthcare needs of South Goa.
“Delayed diagnoses of non-communicable diseases and the lack of access to life-saving treatments continue to affect vulnerable populations,” Naik said. “Universal Health Coverage will remain out of reach unless immediate steps are taken to protect citizens from the financial burden of healthcare.”
Further complaints include long waiting times for patient registration due to poor management, malfunctioning lifts, and inadequate essential services such as MRI and CT scans.
Citizens, including Milagres Fernandes, have expressed concern that the hospital lacks proper infrastructure, including a functioning ICU and blood bank. Fernandes also noted that issues like incomplete infrastructure, including missing bus sheds and footpaths, exacerbate the hospital's challenges.
Rohan Naik, another concerned citizen, highlighted that the district hospital also suffers from a critical shortage of staff.